Bernd and Hilla Becher

Bernd and Hilla Becher were two German conceptual photographers who together produced typographical documentation of industrial structures. Their black-and-white images served as visual case studies of what they called Anonymous Sculpture, referring to disappearing architectural relics such as coal mines, steel mills, water towers, grain silos, and gas tanks. “I became aware that these buildings [blast furnaces] were a kind of nomadic architecture which had a comparatively short life—maybe 100 years, often less, then they disappear,” the artists said of their work. “It seemed important to keep them in some way and photography seemed the most appropriate way to do that.” Bernd Becher was born on August 20, 1931 in Siegen, Germany, and Hilla Wobeser was born on September 2, 1934 in Potsdam, Germany. They met one another while studying painting at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, their romance prompting a collaborative career. Their working methods and techniques influenced a generation of photographers now known as the Düsseldorf School, which includes Andreas Gursky, Thomas Struth, and Candida Höfer. Bernd died on June 22, 2007 in Rostock, Germany, while Hilla died on October 15, 2015 in Düsseldorf, Germany. Today, their works are included in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Tate Gallery in London.

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Bernd and Hilla Becher Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Bernd and Hilla Becher (1,425 results)
Cooling tower, Hagen-Haspe, Germany, 1969

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Cooling tower, Hagen-Haspe, Germany, 1969

Sale Date: March 16, 2011

Auction Closed

Wasserturme (Duisburg), 1973

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Wasserturme (Duisburg), 1973

Sale Date: April 12, 2011

Auction Closed

Toledo, Ohio, USA, 1974

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Toledo, Ohio, USA, 1974

Sale Date: April 7, 2011

Auction Closed

Circle City, N.J., 1974

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Circle City, N.J., 1974

Sale Date: April 7, 2011

Auction Closed

Water tower, Findlay, Ohio, 1977

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Water tower, Findlay, Ohio, 1977

Sale Date: April 7, 2011

Auction Closed

Chemische fabrik Wesseling bei Köln, 1998

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Chemische fabrik Wesseling bei Köln, 1998

Sale Date: April 8, 2011

Auction Closed

Chemische fabrik Wesseling bei Köln, 1998

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Chemische fabrik Wesseling bei Köln, 1998

Sale Date: April 8, 2011

Auction Closed

Hochöfenwerk Belval Esch-Alzette, Luxembourg, 1997

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Hochöfenwerk Belval Esch-Alzette, Luxembourg, 1997

Sale Date: April 8, 2011

Auction Closed

Cooling tower, Zeche Mont Cenis, Herne, Ruhr, 1965

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Cooling tower, Zeche Mont Cenis, Herne, Ruhr, 1965

Sale Date: April 8, 2011

Auction Closed

Cooling tower, Schalker Verein,..., 1982

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Cooling tower, Schalker Verein,..., 1982

Sale Date: April 8, 2011

Auction Closed

Grain elevator, Sheldon, Illinois, USA, 1986

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Grain elevator, Sheldon, Illinois, USA, 1986

Sale Date: April 6, 2011

Auction Closed

Grain elevator, Smithville, Ohio, USA, 1987

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Grain elevator, Smithville, Ohio, USA, 1987

Sale Date: April 6, 2011

Auction Closed

Pipe detail, oil refinery,..., 1986

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Pipe detail, oil refinery,..., 1986

Sale Date: April 6, 2011

Auction Closed

Wasserturm Kirkhamgate (+ 2 others; 3 works), 1976

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Wasserturm Kirkhamgate (+ 2 others; 3 works), 1976

Sale Date: March 26, 2011

Auction Closed

Ohne Titel (6 works, various sizes)

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Ohne Titel (6 works, various sizes)

Sale Date: March 26, 2011

Auction Closed

Sechzehn Hochöfen (from Mappe Kölner..., 1971

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Sechzehn Hochöfen (from Mappe Kölner..., 1971

Sale Date: March 26, 2011

Auction Closed

Hochspannungsmast - Hochofen (+ another..., 1971

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Hochspannungsmast - Hochofen (+ another..., 1971

Sale Date: March 26, 2011

Auction Closed

Ansichten eines Kalksilos in Duisburg-Ruhrort (5

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Ansichten eines Kalksilos in Duisburg-Ruhrort (5

Sale Date: March 26, 2011

Auction Closed

Wassertürme (5 works), 1976

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Wassertürme (5 works), 1976

Sale Date: March 26, 2011

Auction Closed

Silo - Kühlturm (+ 3 others; 4 works), 1971

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Silo - Kühlturm (+ 3 others; 4 works), 1971

Sale Date: March 26, 2011

Auction Closed

Forderturme (Pithead frames), 2006

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Forderturme (Pithead frames), 2006

Sale Date: February 23, 2011

Auction Closed

Industriehallen (Industrial facades), 2006

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Industriehallen (Industrial facades), 2006

Sale Date: February 23, 2011

Auction Closed

Wassertürme (Water towers), 2007

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Wassertürme (Water towers), 2007

Sale Date: February 16, 2011

Auction Closed

Pittsburgh (+ another; 2 works), 1968

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Pittsburgh (+ another; 2 works), 1968

Sale Date: March 9, 2011

Auction Closed

English (US)

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